Chilliwack Lake

{{Short description|Lake in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Chilliwack Lake | image = Chilliwack Lake.jpg | caption = Chilliwack Lake | pushpin_map = Canada British Columbia | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in British Columbia | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = British Columbia, Washington | coords = {{coord|49|03|25|N|121|24|50|W|region:CA-BC|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="BCGNIS">{{BCGNIS|5859|Chilliwack Lake}}</ref> | type = | parent = Pacific Ocean drainage basin | inflow = Chilliwack River, Paleface Creek, Depot Creek | outflow = Chilliwack River | catchment = | basin_countries = Canada, United States | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | frozen = | islands = | sections = | cities = }}

'''Chilliwack Lake''' is a lake in the upper basin of the Chilliwack River southeast of the city of the same name in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada.<ref name="BCGNIS" /> The lake, while entirely within Canada, is located just north of the border between British Columbia and the state of Washington and is both fed and drained by the Chilliwack River, which has its source in the North Cascades of Washington state and Canada, which surround the lake on all sides.

== Parks and recreation == thumb|left|Chilliwack Lake in the winter (2009) Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park is located on the lake's shores on the Canadian end of the lake. At the south end of the lake, there is a large beach, often a partying location, where the at-this-point-slough-like Chilliwack River enters the far end of the lake. There is also a trail that leads into an old growth forest along the river above the lake. It starts near the lake's far end. If you head off trail and ford the river, you can find the difficult trail to Hanging Lake.

=== Boating === Chilliwack Lake can be ideal for canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and small motorized boats. It is important to understand local conditions prior to departure as strong afternoon winds can strand unsuspecting people on the east end of this alpine lake. Also note that dangerous currents exist on the north-west corner of the lake where the water flows into the Chilliwack River.

There is a boat launch that is suitable for boats under 20 feet in length<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/chilliwack_lk/|title=Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park - BC Parks|last=Environment|first=Ministry of|website=www.env.gov.bc.ca|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> at the west end of the lake. Water levels fluctuate throughout the year and the boat launch can become unusable due to either high water completely submerging it, or low water exposing jagged rocks - use at your own risk.

==Climate== Chilliwack Lake has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate type ''Cfb''). {{Weather box |metric first=yes |single line= Y |location= Chilliack Lake (Chilliwack R Hatchery) (Elevation: 225m) 1981−2010 | Jan record high C = 18.5 | Feb record high C = 19.0 | Mar record high C = 26.5 | Apr record high C = 30.5 | May record high C = 36.0 | Jun record high C = 33.5 | Jul record high C = 37.0 | Aug record high C = 34.0 | Sep record high C = 36.0 | Oct record high C = 27.0 | Nov record high C = 17.0 | Dec record high C = 15.0 | year record high C = 37.0 | Jan high C = 4.3 | Feb high C = 7.2 | Mar high C = 10.4 | Apr high C = 14.0 | May high C = 17.2 | Jun high C = 19.8 | Jul high C = 23.2 | Aug high C = 23.5 | Sep high C = 20.4 | Oct high C = 13.9 | Nov high C = 7.2 | Dec high C = 3.7 | year high C = 13.7 | Jan mean C = 1.8 | Feb mean C = 3.5 | Mar mean C = 6.0 | Apr mean C = 9.0 | May mean C = 12.0 | Jun mean C = 14.7 | Jul mean C = 17.5 | Aug mean C = 17.7 | Sep mean C = 14.6 | Oct mean C = 9.6 | Nov mean C = 4.5 | Dec mean C = 1.6 | year mean C = 9.4 | Jan low C = -0.7 | Feb low C = -0.3 | Mar low C = 1.5 | Apr low C = 3.9 | May low C = 6.8 | Jun low C = 9.6 | Jul low C = 11.7 | Aug low C = 11.8 | Sep low C = 8.8 | Oct low C = 5.4 | Nov low C = 1.8 | Dec low C = -0.6 | year low C = 5.0 | Jan record low C = -15.0 | Feb record low C = -17.0 | Mar record low C = -10.5 | Apr record low C = -2.0 | May record low C = -0.5 | Jun record low C = 2.0 | Jul record low C = 6.0 | Aug record low C = 5.5 | Sep record low C = 1.5 | Oct record low C = -7.0 | Nov record low C = -18.5 | Dec record low C = -16.0 | year record low C = -18.5 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 180.8 | Feb precipitation mm = 127.9 | Mar precipitation mm = 132.5 | Apr precipitation mm = 113.0 | May precipitation mm = 92.9 | Jun precipitation mm = 89.0 | Jul precipitation mm = 54.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 52.8 | Sep precipitation mm = 70.3 | Oct precipitation mm = 162.4 | Nov precipitation mm = 244.9 | Dec precipitation mm = 182.5 | year precipitation mm = 1502.9 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 159.0 | Feb rain mm = 113.2 | Mar rain mm = 123.5 | Apr rain mm = 112.2 | May rain mm = 92.9 | Jun rain mm = 88.9 | Jul rain mm = 54.0 | Aug rain mm = 52.8 | Sep rain mm = 70.3 | Oct rain mm = 162.1 | Nov rain mm = 235.4 | Dec rain mm = 164.3 | year rain mm = 1428.4 | Jan snow cm = 21.8 | Feb snow cm = 14.8 | Mar snow cm = 9.0 | Apr snow cm = 0.8 | May snow cm = 0.0 | Jun snow cm = 0.0 | Jul snow cm = 0.0 | Aug snow cm = 0.0 | Sep snow cm = 0.0 | Oct snow cm = 0.3 | Nov snow cm = 9.4 | Dec snow cm = 18.3 | year snow cm = 74.5 | unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm | Jan precipitation days = 18.9 | Feb precipitation days = 15.4 | Mar precipitation days = 18.9 | Apr precipitation days = 17.9 | May precipitation days = 16.8 | Jun precipitation days = 14.6 | Jul precipitation days = 8.8 | Aug precipitation days = 8.2 | Sep precipitation days = 10.7 | Oct precipitation days = 17.6 | Nov precipitation days = 21.0 | Dec precipitation days = 18.4 | year precipitation days = 187.1 | unit rain days = 0.2 mm | Jan rain days = 16.9 | Feb rain days = 14 | Mar rain days = 18.2 | Apr rain days = 17.9 | May rain days = 16.8 | Jun rain days = 14.6 | Jul rain days = 8.8 | Aug rain days = 8.2 | Sep rain days = 10.7 | Oct rain days = 17.6 | Nov rain days = 20.2 | Dec rain days = 16.7 | unit snow days = 0.2 cm | Jan snow days = 3.9 | Feb snow days = 2.6 | Mar snow days = 1.4 | Apr snow days = 0 | May snow days = 0.04 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.12 | Nov snow days = 1.7 | Dec snow days = 3.6 |source 1 = Environment Canada (normals, 1981−2010)<ref name="CHILLIWACK R HATCHERY">{{cite web | url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnProx&txtRadius=25&optProxType=station&coordsStn=49.243056%7C-121.760278%7CAGASSIZ+CDA&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=716&dispBack=0&month1=0&month2=12 | title = Chilliwack R Hatchery | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981−2010 | accessdate = 2018-03-27 }}</ref> }}

== Road closures == The road on the east side of the lake leading to its far end has been closed off to all but regular vehicles. ATVs and dirtbikes are not permitted on the road beyond the south boundary of Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. In addition to that, the road has been decommissioned. {{wide image|Chilliwack Lake panorama.jpg|1200px|Mount Lindeman (left) and Mount Webb from east shore of Chilliwack Lake}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Lakes of the Lower Mainland Category:Canadian Cascades